Sports TV Lawsuits

Sportscaster and former Olympic swimmer Donna deVarona, 52, is asking for $5 million in an age and sex discrimination lawsuit she filed on Monday in Manhattan federal court against ABC Sports. She alleges that she was sacked two years ago (after more than 30 years with the network) because ABC felt she no longer appealed to men between ages 18 and 39. ABC Sports contends that deVarona's suit has no merit. Meanwhile, 11 African-American and Latina stage-crew employees of Fox Sports Net filed a $25 million lawsuit against the cable sports network in Los Angeles Superior Court this week, claiming, their suit says, they have "not been treated the same as their white colleagues." Fox says that each one of the claims has been fully investigated and "is completely without merit."

In still more sports news, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh is claiming that ABC Sports has reponded to his on-air requests about replacing the axed Boomer Esiason as a "Monday Night Football" commentator. "There has been an attempt by ABC to contact me," Limbaugh, 49, told USA Today. "They've built a bridge. Nobody's crossed it yet." Limbaugh is actually no stranger to sports. Before launching his radio career, he did p.r. for the Kansas City Royals.